NEC06550 Does the discharge of chemicals to the environment harm wildlife populations?
Lead Research Organisation:
NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019)
Department Name: Pollution (Wallingford)
Abstract
Traditional chemical risk assessment relies on undertaking laboratory ecotoxicity studies, but can only assume what the population or ecosystem functioning consequences might be. We aim to move beyond these current limitations by interrogating wildlife population data (terrestrial, freshwater and marine) in the context of chemical exposure in a way that will progress the field.
Our high-level aim is to identify which populations and environments are doing well under the current chemical regime and which are not. This will allow the UK to focus its research where the greatest wildlife declines are occurring and bring clarity to the issue of chemical risk in the environment that continues to cause great uncertainty.
Only a few studies have exploited Britain's long-term wildlife population data with regards to the influence of chemical exposure. Chemical exposures we will examine will include pesticides in the terrestrial and freshwater environments, the chemical mixture in sewage effluent, metals and persistent organic pollutants. We will be looking at macroinvertebrates and fishes in our rivers, invertebrates and sparrowhawks on land and cetaceans (dolphins and killer whales) off our coasts. These environments and species represent current concerns across the natural environment for both diffuse and point source pollution. We will focus on species and taxa that are either core providers of ES or represent aspects of native biodiversity identified by the public as important to societal wellbeing. There are many stressors and compensating factors other than chemicals that can influence wildlife populations. We will incorporate such factors into our analyses to assess their role and significance and thus also address the research question: How important are chemical stressors in relation to other pressures in the environment? By comparing long-term and spatially explicit trends in natural populations, with the response predicted by classical ecotoxicity as reported in the literature, we will evaluate whether such tests are indicative of impacts in the wild. This is essential to assess to what extent traditional risk assessments, typical of those used in the Water Framework and similar Directives, are predictive of outcomes for wildlife populations in terrestrial, freshwater or marine environments.
Our high-level aim is to identify which populations and environments are doing well under the current chemical regime and which are not. This will allow the UK to focus its research where the greatest wildlife declines are occurring and bring clarity to the issue of chemical risk in the environment that continues to cause great uncertainty.
Only a few studies have exploited Britain's long-term wildlife population data with regards to the influence of chemical exposure. Chemical exposures we will examine will include pesticides in the terrestrial and freshwater environments, the chemical mixture in sewage effluent, metals and persistent organic pollutants. We will be looking at macroinvertebrates and fishes in our rivers, invertebrates and sparrowhawks on land and cetaceans (dolphins and killer whales) off our coasts. These environments and species represent current concerns across the natural environment for both diffuse and point source pollution. We will focus on species and taxa that are either core providers of ES or represent aspects of native biodiversity identified by the public as important to societal wellbeing. There are many stressors and compensating factors other than chemicals that can influence wildlife populations. We will incorporate such factors into our analyses to assess their role and significance and thus also address the research question: How important are chemical stressors in relation to other pressures in the environment? By comparing long-term and spatially explicit trends in natural populations, with the response predicted by classical ecotoxicity as reported in the literature, we will evaluate whether such tests are indicative of impacts in the wild. This is essential to assess to what extent traditional risk assessments, typical of those used in the Water Framework and similar Directives, are predictive of outcomes for wildlife populations in terrestrial, freshwater or marine environments.
Planned Impact
Through the examination of population monitoring data, we will inform the regulatory approach to chemicals by evaluating whether the current approach protects wildlife populations and their ecosystem services (ES). Our aim is to identify which populations and environments are doing well under the current chemical regime and which are not. This is tied closely with our regulatory and operational stakeholders' aims. Thus, evaluating the population response to chemical exposure will provide vital information for a wide range of stakeholders and they will be able to focus on chemicals and environments where the greatest declines in native wildlife are occurring. The pathways for engaging and promoting these impacts are detailed in the Pathways to Impact section.
Regulators and Government such as the EA and Defra welcome this proposal. Our research will complement laboratory studies on the impact of a chemical on an organism and provide knowledge on the true impact on wildlife populations over time in the real environment, something that cannot be replicated in the laboratory. The EA are keen to know if there are population impacts occurring despite regulation and we are responding to the Defra Group ARI. We will meet their needs to 'a more effective use of observations to better understand risk' and 'to provide a better understanding of how chemical pollution may be changing the environment'.
The Chemicals Industry including pharmaceuticals, personal care and agrochemicals, are aware that a proportion of their products enter the environment following sewage treatment or agricultural application. Our industry partners (Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, Pfizer, Roche) are all giving strong support to this proposal. They believe this project will greatly help their industry by opening a new line of evidence on the true impact of their chemicals on wildlife. It will give greater confidence and allow decisions to be based on evidence rather than assumptions. This research will improve regulator-industry relationships by giving regulators greater certainty regarding where to show caution and put further controls on products and where the burden of an overly cautious approach may be reduced.
The Water Industry have argued that the risks from chemicals, particularly pharmaceuticals, which escape in wastewater are not well understood We will determine the impact of chemicals released in wastewater both on macroinvertebrates and fish populations over recent decades. If no population consequences are occurring in waters receiving wastewater then we can argue that such costly expenditure and additional energy requirement is unnecessary; the current UK bill for stringent tertiary treatment is an estimated £30 billion. We have close support from Thames Water for our freshwater work.
The Recreation Industry such as Angling, are important stakeholders. They can place considerable pressure on politicians and industry when ill-informed speculation on chemical impacts takes off. Our NGO contacts have expressed great interest in the outcome of our proposal. We will help this sector to better understand chemical pressure and where to focus conservation efforts to mitigate it. Environmental NGOs will recognise the value of our work on assessing population-level impacts of chemicals to address their concerns.
Wider Dissemination and Building Capacity
Incorporating population studies routinely in the way we examine the impact of chemicals, or indeed other human activities, will be a paradigm shift. As well as through publications, we will influence other stakeholders by hosting a web-based training resource to reveal our sources and approach. Showing how publically available monitoring data can be used will democratise the access to science and the power it can provide. It will help grow a new generation of scientists using this approach.
Regulators and Government such as the EA and Defra welcome this proposal. Our research will complement laboratory studies on the impact of a chemical on an organism and provide knowledge on the true impact on wildlife populations over time in the real environment, something that cannot be replicated in the laboratory. The EA are keen to know if there are population impacts occurring despite regulation and we are responding to the Defra Group ARI. We will meet their needs to 'a more effective use of observations to better understand risk' and 'to provide a better understanding of how chemical pollution may be changing the environment'.
The Chemicals Industry including pharmaceuticals, personal care and agrochemicals, are aware that a proportion of their products enter the environment following sewage treatment or agricultural application. Our industry partners (Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, Pfizer, Roche) are all giving strong support to this proposal. They believe this project will greatly help their industry by opening a new line of evidence on the true impact of their chemicals on wildlife. It will give greater confidence and allow decisions to be based on evidence rather than assumptions. This research will improve regulator-industry relationships by giving regulators greater certainty regarding where to show caution and put further controls on products and where the burden of an overly cautious approach may be reduced.
The Water Industry have argued that the risks from chemicals, particularly pharmaceuticals, which escape in wastewater are not well understood We will determine the impact of chemicals released in wastewater both on macroinvertebrates and fish populations over recent decades. If no population consequences are occurring in waters receiving wastewater then we can argue that such costly expenditure and additional energy requirement is unnecessary; the current UK bill for stringent tertiary treatment is an estimated £30 billion. We have close support from Thames Water for our freshwater work.
The Recreation Industry such as Angling, are important stakeholders. They can place considerable pressure on politicians and industry when ill-informed speculation on chemical impacts takes off. Our NGO contacts have expressed great interest in the outcome of our proposal. We will help this sector to better understand chemical pressure and where to focus conservation efforts to mitigate it. Environmental NGOs will recognise the value of our work on assessing population-level impacts of chemicals to address their concerns.
Wider Dissemination and Building Capacity
Incorporating population studies routinely in the way we examine the impact of chemicals, or indeed other human activities, will be a paradigm shift. As well as through publications, we will influence other stakeholders by hosting a web-based training resource to reveal our sources and approach. Showing how publically available monitoring data can be used will democratise the access to science and the power it can provide. It will help grow a new generation of scientists using this approach.
Organisations
- NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019) (Lead Research Organisation)
- Unilever (Netherlands) (Collaboration)
- Syngenta International AG (Collaboration)
- National Farmers Union (Collaboration)
- British Trust for Ornithology (Project Partner)
- Bayer (Germany) (Project Partner)
- Natural England (Project Partner)
- Roche (Switzerland) (Project Partner)
- Wildlife and Countryside Link (Project Partner)
- Thames Water (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Pfizer (United States) (Project Partner)
- Angling Trust (Project Partner)
- Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (Project Partner)
- Johnson and Johnson Corporation (Project Partner)
- Environment Agency (Project Partner)
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Project Partner)
Publications
Broughton RK
(2022)
Long-term trends of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) show widespread contamination of a bird-eating predator, the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) in Britain.
in Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
Curnick DJ
(2023)
Northerly range expansion and first confirmed records of the smalltooth sand tiger shark, Odontaspis ferox, in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
in Journal of fish biology
Greenop A
(2021)
Patterns of invertebrate functional diversity highlight the vulnerability of ecosystem services over a 45-year period.
in Current biology : CB
Greenop A
(2020)
Invertebrate community structure predicts natural pest control resilience to insecticide exposure
in Journal of Applied Ecology
Greenop A
(2020)
Equivocal Evidence for Colony Level Stress Effects on Bumble Bee Pollination Services.
in Insects
Johnson A
(2019)
The necessity for wildlife population studies to assess real chemical impacts
in Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health
Johnson A
(2021)
The Weight-of-Evidence Approach and the Need for Greater International Acceptance of Its Use in Tackling Questions of Chemical Harm to the Environment
in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Johnson A
(2019)
Is freshwater macroinvertebrate biodiversity being harmed by synthetic chemicals in municipal wastewater?
in Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health
Johnson AC
(2021)
The Future of the Weight-of-Evidence Approach: A Response to Suter's Comments.
in Environmental toxicology and chemistry
Johnson AC
(2020)
Learning from the past and considering the future of chemicals in the environment.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Mancini F
(2020)
The Future of Agricultural Landscapes, Part I
Mancini F
(2019)
Agrochemicals in the wild: Identifying links between pesticide use and declines of nontarget organisms
in Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health
Mancini F
(2024)
Correction to: 'Invertebrate biodiversity continues to decline in cropland' (2023), by Mancini et al.
in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Mancini F
(2023)
Invertebrate biodiversity continues to decline in cropland
in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Qu Y
(2023)
Significant improvement in freshwater invertebrate biodiversity in all types of English rivers over the past 30 years.
in The Science of the total environment
Shore R
(2019)
Population-level impacts of chemical contaminants on apex avian species
in Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health
Sumpter J
(2022)
Renewing and Improving the Environmental Risk Assessment of Chemicals
in SSRN Electronic Journal
Sumpter J
(2022)
Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment: No Answers Yet to the Major Questions
in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Sumpter JP
(2023)
A 'Limitations' section should be mandatory in all scientific papers.
in The Science of the total environment
Sumpter JP
(2022)
Renewing and improving the environmental risk assessment of chemicals.
in The Science of the total environment
Sumpter JP
(2021)
A comprehensive aquatic risk assessment of the beta-blocker propranolol, based on the results of over 600 research papers.
in The Science of the total environment
Whelan MJ
(2022)
Is water quality in British rivers "better than at any time since the end of the Industrial Revolution"?
in The Science of the total environment
Williams R
(2021)
Polychlorinated biphenyls are associated with reduced testes weights in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)
in Environment International
Williams RS
(2023)
Spatiotemporal Trends Spanning Three Decades Show Toxic Levels of Chemical Contaminants in Marine Mammals.
in Environmental science & technology
Williams RS
(2023)
Evaluation of a marine mammal status and trends contaminants indicator for European waters.
in The Science of the total environment
Description | NFU arrival on our external advisory board |
Organisation | National Farmers Union |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | NFU came onboard as they were keen to assess and advise on the way we are identifying risks from pesticides |
Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at all our PMG meetings |
Impact | none |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Syngenta and our PMG |
Organisation | Syngenta International AG |
Department | Syngenta Ltd (Bracknell) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Request to be involved in our external advisory board |
Collaborator Contribution | They have provided useful information on current and future pesticide use and trends |
Impact | Helpful information provided for our Science paper |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Unilever arrival on our external advisory board |
Organisation | Unilever |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Discussions are ongoing into how our new knowledge could inform Unilever product risk assessment |
Collaborator Contribution | Involvement at all our project management group meetings |
Impact | Helpful information provided that was used in our Science paper |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | British Toxicological Society Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Outlined impacts of chemicals on biodiversity and how this has lessened over time. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Cafe Scientifique Oxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Cafe Scientifique is an opportunity for the general public to hear about science at an evening event. In my talk about fish, oestrogens and water quality I explained our new approaches to assess chemical impacts on wildlife |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Cornwall's Beekeeping Convention, Turo |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Beekeeping convention talk covering a range of wild bee related topics, sustainable intensification and impacts of pesticides. Opportunity to explain the approach used in our project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Defra organised meeting to discuss UK chemical strategy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Opportunity to explain the latest approaches as used by our project in assessing the impacts of chemicals on the environment, particularly valuable in underlining the need for the UK to maintain its monitoring network! |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | GW4 (SW England research & collaboration partnership) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Outlining potential of wildlife monitoring to assess chemical impacts |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | LEAF - Linking Farming and Environement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Outreach on informing practitioners about impact of farming practice on biodiversity |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Meeting organised by Sainsburys on water quality |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | I was one of 3 academics who discussed different aspects of water quality to Sainsburys senior staff and their suppliers. It allowed me to explain the approach used in my current project to assess chemical impacts |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Meeting with Japanese scientists in the UK/J Defra organised working group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Opportunity to explain the latest approaches as used by our project in assessing the impacts of chemicals on the environment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Meeting with senior staff of Thames Water |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Opportunity to explain the latest approaches as used by our project in assessing the impacts of chemicals on the environment. Thames Water managers endorsed our approach. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Poster on project presented at SETAC Helsinki meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Opportunity to show our research approaches as used by our project in assessing the impacts of chemicals on the environment to a very wide audiance |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Presentation given to the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A presentation given to the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use,. This was a description of the CHEMPOP project aims and progress, and specifically the work package on rodenticides. This information was disseminated through a presentation to a key stakeholder group, the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use. This is an industry led- consortium of rodenticide manufacturers, distributors and users (pest control companies, representatives of other professional user groups such as farmers) who have a keen interest in understanding the environmental impact of their products |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | SETAC 2020 International meeting on chemicals in the environment |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Reviewed improvements in macroinvertebrates. Evidence of macroinvertebrate recovery linked to water quality. Caused some surprise! |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Talk to CSIC in Spain, which is an institute concerned with water quality |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Opportunity to discuss the latest approaches to study chemicals in the environment in the UK, so could explain the methods in this project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Talk to Chinese scientists from CRAES Institute in Beijing |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Opportunity to explain the latest approaches as used by our project in assessing the impacts of chemicals on the environment. Valuable exercise as the Chinese review and develop our own approaches. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Talk to Luxembourg Research Institute (LIST) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Opportunity to explain the latest approaches as used by our project in assessing the impacts of chemicals on the environment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | The Crop it Like it's Hot Podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Podcast to arable farming industry. Overview of sustainable management and its links with pollination and pesticides |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.croptecshow.com/podcasts/ |